Lyon 2 Shakhtar Donetsk 2: Hosts mount late fightback to keep Group F top spot

Lyon scored twice inside two second-half minutes to salvage a late 2-2 home draw with Shakhtar Donetsk and stay top of Group F in the Champions League.

Memphis Depay’s second-half introduction sparked a remarkable fightback that saw Moussa Dembele and Leo Dubois net 119 seconds apart at an empty Groupama Stadium on Tuesday.

Lyon, shock
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2-1 winners at Manchester City a fortnight ago, were forced to play this match beyond closed doors as punishment for crowd disturbances during last season’s Europa League, and the eerie atmosphere initially played into Shakhtar’s hands.

Junior Moraes struck a double either side of half-time to put the visitors within reach of a second Champions League away victory in 10 attempts but, despite their earlier dominance, Dembele and Dubois’ rescue act ultimately left them clinging onto a second consecutive draw.

5 – Lyon are unbeaten in their last 5 Champions League games (W2 D3), a first since September-November 2008 (also 5). Roar. pic.twitter.com/JC2XOHEZrd

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 2, 2018

Lyon scored twice inside two second-half minutes to salvage a late 2-2 home draw with Shakhtar Donetsk and stay top of Group F in the Champions League.

Memphis Depay’s second-half introduction sparked a remarkable fightback that saw Moussa Dembele and Leo Dubois net 119 seconds apart at an empty Groupama Stadium on Tuesday.

Lyon, shock 2-1 winners at Manchester City a fortnight ago, were forced to play this match beyond closed doors as punishment for crowd disturbances during last season’s Europa League, and the eerie atmosphere initially played into Shakhtar’s hands.

Junior Moraes struck a double either side of half-time to put the visitors within reach of a second Champions League away victory in 10 attempts but, despite their earlier dominance, Dembele and Dubois’ rescue act left Paulo Fonseca’s men to rue a fleeting lapse in concentration.

Lyon began as brightly as they had at Etihad Stadium but there was no early reward this time, ex-Celtic striker Dembele unable to beat Andriy Pyatov in a one-on-one.

Shakhtar soon settled and unleashed a trio of warning
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efforts prior to Moraes’ deserved opener, the Brazilian sweeping home Ismaily’s cutback a minute before half-time.

Moraes looked to have fired Shakhtar top of the group by doubling his tally 10 minutes into the second half with a splendid side-footed finish from a narrow angle.

But the arrival of the talismanic Depay instigated a stunning recovery, Dembele first heading in Nabil Fekir’s cross in the 70th minute before right-back Dubois ghosted into the box to tuck away Houssem Aouar’s pass.

Both sides had chances to win it at the death as Dembele scuffed a close-range shot and substitute Olarenwaju Kayode hit the crossbar at the other end, but a share of the points seemed a fitting conclusion.

What it means: Group F still City’s to lose

Though they got out of jail in the end, Lyon must rue their failure to fully capitalise on an excellent result against City.

Pep Guardiola will have watched on with satisfaction given his side are now just a point shy of top spot.

Moraes stars for Shakhtar

Shakhtar’s front-man deserved to finish a winner for his sterling two-goal effort.

The 31-year-old, an off-season recruit from Dynamo Kyiv, took both goals with aplomb, and the second of his brace was a particularly impressive finish as curled past the otherwise impressive Anthony Lopes.

Tut tut, Tousart

Lucas Tousart shared responsibility for Shakhtar’s opener with Bertrand Traore, the pair of them failing to keep an eye on Ismaily as the full-back slipped to the byline untracked.

The moment summed up Tousart’s involvement in the match as he was largely reduced to the role of spectator, showing little sense of adventure when he did receive the ball.

Key Opta stats: Moraes makes his mark

– Shakhtar Donetsk have scored as many goals in this game as they did in their previous eight Champions League away matches combined (2).
– Of Shakhtar’s last 19 Champions league goals, 17 have been scored by players from South American countries, including 14 from Brazil. 
– Moraes has scored in two of his last three Champions League appearances, after netting in just one of his previous 12 in the competition.

What’s next?

Lyon have the chance to end Paris Saint-Germain’s perfect Ligue 1 record when they head to Parc des Princes on Sunday, the same day as Shakhtar’s visit from Zorya in the Ukrainian Premier League.

In the Champions League, Lyon’s next assignment is a trip to Hoffenheim, while Shakhtar welcome City.